Thin colored fishskin



Patented Aug. 6,- 1940 PATIENT OFFICE 'rnm oononsn FISHSKIN Edward.Goerk, Newruri'i', s. r.

No Drawing. Application August 14, 1937, Serial No. 159,113

7 Cla m.

This inventionrelates'to the use of thin fishskins. It has for itspurpose utilizing such skins selected primarily for color and design, ortransparency, to create new articles of manufacture and to be combinedwith other materials to give new and decorative effects and addedeconomic value. For example the whole treated skins, or parts thereof,either alone or in combination, may be used in the manufacture of shoetops for 10. women's shoes or for a great variety of other articles suchas handbags, traveling cases, cigarette cases, vanity cases, thedecoration of gloves, millinery trimmings, and other uses.

While the skins from a great variety of fishes,

too numerous to recite herein, may be used, I

will mention by way of example the many varieties of small, tropicalfish, such as are found off the coast of Florida, and in many otherplaces throughout the world. Many of these fish, as for example those ofthe Soaridai, Serranidae, Labridae, Sparidae, Pomacentridae, andBalistidae families, are characterized by their varied and remarkablecoloring, and the design of the skins after the scales are removed. Manyof these skins are also transparent to a high degree. Very interestingand ornamental effects can be obtained with these skins.

v Heretofore it has been suggested to form leather out of heavyfishskins such as porpoise, shark and whale. The leather so obtained isvery thick, requires an extended period for treatment,

- and is of a dull appearance, without substantial variation in color.Furthermore such leather is altogether lacking in transparency. Bothbecause of its thickness and its relatively uninteresting appareance itis not suitable for use in the light type of women's shoes which arealmost universally used today, or the other uses contemplated herein.

One of the purposes of this invention is to preserve to a high degreethe natural, and often bril. liant color of the'thin fishskins used.Another purpose is to utilize the symmetrical design of these fishskins.I

The appreciation of the desirability of using transparent skins, and ofhow to use this transparency, the degree of which varies greatlywith thedifferent fishskins selected, constitutes an important part of thisinvention.

The skins from the selected fish should be treated promptly after thefish are taken from the water to obtain the best results. The skins mayfirst be treated to remove scales in any suitable way, such as bytreatment in a solution of acetic 85 acid followed by rubbing. Afterthis operation the blood and body fluids generally are removed from theskins, after which the skins are rapidly tanned. I have found that verysuitable results may be obtained by treating the skins as follows:

1. Placing them in a weak solution of acetic acid for approximately 10minutes and removing and scraping them to remove the scales. A piece. ofwood, or whale'bone makes a satisfactory scraping means. The strength ofthe solution may be considerably varied but from 1 to 5% will usually besufllcient.

2. Soakingthe skins in a weak solution of a lime for a period dependingon the nature of the skin. While I am not limited thereto the periodwill usually be from 1 to 12 hours, and the strength of the solution maybe similarly varied.

3. Wash the skins to remove the lime, using soapwood to avoid lye foundin ordinary soaps, and rinse.

4. Immerse the skins in aweak solution of tannic acid extract of sumacbark varying in intensity according to the skins treated.

The skins selected and treated as set forth above have an attractivenatural coloration and often combine in one skin several colors thusgiving an-interesting and attractive appearance to the articles intowhich they are incorporated.

Due to the transparency of many of the fish skins which are the subjectof my invention the color effect-may be enhanced by plgmenting orotherwise coloring the reverse or backside of the skins or by combiningwith the skins a colored lining or backing which may be of cambric,canvas, or any other suitable material. The backing not only adds to theattractive coloration of a shoe top or other product formed from theskin but also serves to strengthen and give shape to theskirl.

In the manufacture of shoe tops the use or one skin in making up the topfor one shoe is one of the uses contemplated. For this purpose th dorsalfin of each fish is bufied down until it is merely a ridge extendingalong the center line of the shoe extending from the toe over theinstep. The natural marking and pattern of the skins used in this wayformsa very pleasing and symmetrical design which is greatly enhanced bythe coloration of the skins.

It will be understood that this application is not limited'to thespecific treatment described herein, nor to the uses mentioned, but onlyby the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. As a new article of commerce a thin fishskin having a longitudinalrib formed by bufling 5. A shoe top comprising a flshskin symmetridownthe dorsal fin. cally arranged with the bufled down dorsal fin 2. As anew article of commerce 9. tanned thin forming a centrally extendingrib. flshskln having a high degree of its natural col- 6. The productcomprising in combination a 5 oration and a longitudinal rib formed bybumng translucent naturally pigmented flshskin and a 5 down the dorsalfin. supplementary backing visible therethrough.

3. A shoe top comprising a thin flshskin hav- 7. The product comprisingin combination an ing the dorsal fin buffed down forming a rib.unbleached, naturally pigmented and translucent 4. A shoe top comprisinga thin fishskin havfishskin, and a supporting backing therefor 10 ingthe dorsal fln bufied down forming a rib adapted to supplement thenatural color and de- 10 extending along the center line from the toe tosign of the skin. the instep. EDWARD GOERK.

